Fallon softball sweeps Galena

RENO - Coming up with big plays defensively helped the Fallon Lady Wave softball team battle back in the second game of its doubleheader, a 7-4 win in eight innings against Galena Tuesday afternoon.

"That's a lot of adversity there, but we bounced back," Fallon coach Phil Pinder said. "We didn't play as sharp as we did in the first game. It's always tough to get the doubleheader."

Fallon, which won the first game, 10-0, is 2-0 in the High Desert League and travels to Elko this weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday. Fallon faces Galena at home next Tuesday.

"We made some mental errors on plays that we should have had outs," Galena coach Michon Jeanney said. "We bounced back in the second game and did an excellent job in the first few innings. It takes a lot to come out and play hard again after the first game."

Facing a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh inning, reliever Kate Pinder relied on a low fastball for an inning-ending double play. Pinder, who replaced starter Casey Pomeroy, forced Alexa Youngberg to ground to her and Sara Parsons reeled the throw to first to escape the jam.

Fallon scored four runs in the extra inning as Pinder nailed a two-run double to right-centerfield with one out. Two more runs scored after two outfielders collided in right-center on the next play.

"We stayed patient and finally came alive in the second game," Pinder said.

The bases-loaded jam wasn't the first time Fallon cheated death.

A textbook-executed relay from left field helped the Lady Wave stop a potential game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Natasha Shebloski fired to Sam Ward at third base and then relayed to Parsons, stopping Amanda Parmer from reaching the plate.

Galena led 3-1 after Kelly McGinley drove in a run and two more scored on Shebloski's error. Fallon scored in the third inning on an error and tied the game in the fifth inning when Pomeroy stole second and advanced home on an error.

"Errors, just errors," Jeanney said of one of the main differences. "We weren't making plays. Fallon had some good hits, too."

Fallon coasted in the first game after Ward hit a two-run home run to centerfield in the first inning. Fallon scored three more runs in the fifth inning with Jessica Lewis, Khaliah Brown and Pomeroy each crossing the plate.

The Lady Wave added insurance in the seventh inning on Red Crawford's two-run single and Parson's chopper over third. Pinder picked up the win after striking out four Grizzlies and walking one. She allowed one hit.